Pneumatic player mechanism.



F. C. WHITE.

PNEUMATIC PLAYER MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN.5.1914.

1,227,510. Patented May 22, 1917. m a

unitrm) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. WHITE, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE WILGOX & WHITE COMPANY, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CUNNEQTIGUT.

PNEUMATIC PLAYER MEGHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed January 5, 1914. Serial No. 810,290.

To all whom it may concern it-lrnown that I, FRANK C. \Vrrrrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meriden, New Haven county, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Player Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to pneumatic player mechanism. The main object of the invention is to provide in connection with player apparatus means for effecting either partial or complete automatic operation. The apparatus may be associated directly with a regular player mechanism, or it may be ar ranged in an independent cabinet or frame to be attached to such player mechanism, the particular method of mounting the parts being immaterial.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown in a single diagrammatic view my invention associated with a player mechanism.

1 represents an action chest such as commonly employed in pneumatic player mechanisms. In the form shown, this action chest includes two divisions a-b, separated by a partition indicated in dotted lines. 2 represents an exhauster bellows arranged to be operated by a foot treadle. 3 is an equalizer bellows associated with the exhauster 2. 3 is a duct leading from the exhauster to a box 4:. 5 is a duct leading from the box 4c and having the branches 66 The branch 6 leads to the section a of the action chest, while the branch 6 leads to the section I) of the action chest. In each of these branches is an automatic tension regulator valve, as indicated at 7-7 respectively. Each regulator valve may be automatically controlled in any suitable manner, and is designed to maintain a regulated relatively low tension within its respective action section or division. Each branch 6-6 also is provided with a quick-acting valve 8 -8 respectively, normally closed, but which may be automatically opened, as by a small pouch pneumatic, to put the interior of the respective action chest sections in direct communication with the source of exhaust, whereby a relatively higher tension may be secured in either one or both of said sections, depending upon whether the valves 8-8 are opened or closed. 9 is the usual trackerboard. 19 is a duct communicating by pipe 11 with the pouch pneumatic controlling the valve 8. 12 is a tracker-board duct in communication through pipe 13 with the pouch pneumatic for controlling valve 8. Normally these tracker ducts 12 are closed by the note sheet, but when a perioration registers with either oi? these ducts, the respective valve 8 or 8, or both, is thereupon opened. let is a check valve arranged between the pipes 3 and 5 and adapted to open in a direction to permit air to flow only toward the exhauster 3.

The parts 2 and 3 are in operation of course only when the device is to be 1nan-- ually driven. When mechanically driven these parts may remain idle.

15 conventionally represents a power driven exhauster mechanism, which in this instance it may be assumed is driven by a suitable electric motor 16. This motor 16 is belted to a pulley 17, which in turn is belted to a pulley 18. The pulley 17 is preferably carried upon the short end of a lever 19 pivoted at 20, to the long end of which lever is connected a collapsible bellows 21,

the interior of which may be connected by a pipe 22 to the exhaust chamber within the exhauster 15. The function of this pneumatic 21 and the reason for mounting the pulley 17 as aforesaid will later be explained.

The exhaust chamber within the power driven exhauster 15, the exhaust mechanism of which may be of any suitable design, has proceeding therefrom a pipe 23. This pipe 23 has a branch 24: which leads to the pipe 5 in the same manner as the pipe 3 leads thereto, a suitable check valve 25 being arranged in this circuit opening only toward the pipe 241. The pipe 23 has another branch 26, which leads to a box 27, having an exhaust chamber 28 therein. This exhaust chamber 28 is connected by a pipe 29 to an equalizer bellows 29 which performs on the power driven side of the mechanism the same function as the equalizer bellows 3, as

will later be seen. The exhaust chamber 28 within the box 27 has a partition 27 therein through which are a plurality of passages, these passages being controlled by valves 3O80 30"-30 respectively, there being in this particular instance four of such passages provided, although this, of course, may be varied. Each of these valves 30 to 30 respectively is controlled by a small pouch pneumatic, as shown, the said pouch pneumatics being normally collapsed. 3131 3l"3l are pipes which lead respectively into each pouch pneumatic 30 to 30 respectively, so that when these pipes 31 to 31 inclusive are opened to atmosphere, the pouches will be distended and the valves 3O3O-30"30 will be either individually or collectively operated to close their respective passages. These pipes 3lto 31 inclusive lead to tracker openings 323J- 32 32 in the tracker board 9, and since these tracker board ducts are normally closed by the note sheet, it follows that the pouch pneumatics controlling the valves 30 to 30 will be collapsed and said valves will stand in the open position. If new air is exhausted from the box 2'7 by the exhauster 15, a partial vacuum will be maintained in the chamber within the box 27. 33 is an open passage leading into the chamber 28, which passage allows air to leak into said chamber so that low tension normally obtains therein, even though the exhauster 15 is running at its full capacity, it being the intention in the present case to provide suitable mechanism whereby the exhauster 15 may work at one given speed rather than at a variable speed. Since the inrush of air through the opening or passage 33 would be liable to cause a hissing sound, I, by preference, provide what is in effect a mufliing device at to prevent this.

Now assuming the motor 16 is started and the power exhauster 15 exhausts air from the aforesaid system, it will draw air from both sections of the action chest through the respective piping and past the check valve 25, the check valve 14- closing. At the same time it will draw air in through the passage 33 through the exhaust chamber 28, the equalizer bellows 29 being partially exhausted, the latter being, of course, regulated with respect to the resistance at the opening 33, so that it will stand partially collapsed to perform the usual equalizing function. The usual striker pneumatics (not shown) customarily associated with the action chest, may be actuated in the usual manner, depending upon the perforated note sheet which controls the tracker note perforations 3535. Thus, as the individual striker pneumatics of the action mechanism are operated, notes will be sounded and at a tension corresponding to the low tension obtaining within the chambers 28. If a higher tension is desired, one or more of the valves 30 to 30 maybe closed by uncovering one or more of the tracker ducts 32 to 32 respectively. This closing of the valves aforesaid automatically restricts or cuts off the passage of air through the box 27, and since the power exhauster 15 is assumed to work at a given speed, it follows that a relatively higher tension will occur within the action chest, depending upon the degree to which the leakage through the box 27 is out down. Obviously, if all of the valves 30 to 30 are closed, the highest tension will obtain at the action chest, which tension will still be un der the equalizing effect of the equalizerregulator 29. If desired, this equalizer ac tion may be cut out by automatic means comprising a normally open valve 36 arranged to close a passage in the box 27 located between the pipe 26 and pipe 29. This valve 36 may normally stand open and may be closed by a pouch pneumatic into which leads a pipe 37, leading to a tracker opening 38. lVhen the tracker opening 38 is opened by the note sheet, the valve 36 will be closed, thus cutting oil the aforesaid passage leading to the regulator equalizer 29", so that the full unregulated capacity of the power driven exhauster 15 will be transmitted to the action chest. It should be understood, of course, that at such times the high tension valves S-S should be open, for otherwise this tension would be automatica-lly regulated by the regulators 7--7 previously described. is a valve which is arranged to close the opening 33. This valve 39 is normally open, but may be closed by a pouch pneumatic, as shown, into which leads a pipe 10, which pipe is open at its other end, excepting as closed by a valve 41 having a vent 4-2. This valve 11 is associated with the backboard of the equalizer 29. In the position shown in the drawing in which the equalizer 29 is fully distended (the pumping mechanism 15 being still), the vent 4:2 in the valve 41 is shown to the right of the outer end of the pipe 10.

Assuming now a note sheet is applied over the tracker to close all the ducts therein, and the power driven exhauster 15 is started, air will be exhausted from the chamber 28 and the equalizer 29 in the manner aforesaid, and the backboard of the latter will more to the left, shifting the valve ll. When the vent 4l-2 registers with the end of the pipe 40, a pufl of air will enter the pouch pneumatic, causing the valve 39 to close the opening 33, whereupon the tension within the chamber 28 will increase and the equalizer 29 will further collapse until the vent 42 moves to the left of the end of the pipe 40, closing the latter and permitting the valve 39 to again uncover the leak opening 33. This position may be assumed to be the normal operative low tension position of the equalizer 29. If it so happens that the composition on any particular note sheet being used calls for the striking of a relatively large number of notes at a relatively low tension, it is obvious that the opening of a large number of note perforations at the tracker and the operation of a correspondingly large number of striking pneumatics simultaneously therewith would so quickly lower the tension that the capacity of the apparatus under such condition would be unequal to the effective striking of the large number of notes, because, it will be borne in mind, there is under normal conditions always a leakage through the pipe 33 that has to be discounted. Therefore, if such a condition should obtain either at the beginning of a composition or at any place in the composition, the imperfect action of the striker pneumatics is guarded against by the quick opening of the pipe l0 and the closing of the valve 39, which will occur should the tension within the equalizer 29 drop to such a point that the backboard will move to the right from its normal operative position sur'iicientlv to open the pipe lO.

rissummg that a note sheet were employed with only note perforations therein, that is to say without perforations to control the expression mechanism, I have provided additional means to permit the operator to manually control the tension within the action chest, even though the exhaust is being effected through the medium of the power driven exhauster 15. This means I have conventionally shown in the accompanying drawing, and it includes a suitable manually operable valve l3, which normally covers the ends of pipes 4C4El4 -l4 l4 and 45. The pipes 44c to 4:46 connect with the pipes 31 to 31 respectively, while the pipe 5 connects with the pipes 11 and 13. Assuming the valve s3 is moved to the right, it at once opens the pipes 11-43, causing the valves 88 respectively to open to put the interior of each division of the action chest in direct communication with the exhaust chamber 28. If the valve 48 is moved farther to the right and uncovers the pipe 44, the valve 80 will be closed, lessening the leak into the chamber 28, giving a higher tension within the action chest, which tension may be increased progressively by moving the valve 43 farther to the right to cause the closing of the valves 30"30- and 30 one after another. The valve 43 may be associated with any suitable form of manually operable device such as a lever 43', the normal position of which is, of course, such that the valve 43 will stand closed.

46 conventionally represents a wind motor for driving the music rolls (not shown), the wind-way to said motor being so related to the exhauster means (both foot and power driven) that either one will cause the wind motor to operate. In the particular form shown, the wind-way 46 to the motor taps into the space between the pipe 5 and the check valves 1l-25. 4:7 is a valve controlled by a pouch pneumatic, which valve normally stands open, but which may be closed by distending said pouch pneumatic 47 to cut off the circuit to the action chest when desired, as for example, when the music rolls are to be re-Wound.

The power exhausting apparatus may be housed directly within the usual casing which may be used to inclose the regular player mechanism, or it may be arranged externally thereof, the exhaust pipe 2-3 extending from the regular piano housing to the mechanical exhauster 15, wherever the latter may be located. It will be understood that the drawings provided herewith are simply diagrammatic in character, it being assumed that the respective parts will be assembled in any way best adapted to the particular instrument with which the player is to be associated.

I-Ieretofore I am aware that'it has been common to employ a power actuated exhauster for penumatic player mechanism, for example, an electric motor associated with exhauster bellows, and in such devices it has been necessary to vary the effective tension of the exhauster by varying the speed thereof. This has required the inclusion of resistance devices to control the speed of the motor, but inasmuch as such devices cannot quickly effect any substantial variation in the speed of such power devices, it has been impossible to secure satisfactory results be cause of the inability to secure a quick and substantial variation in the effective air tension as frequently required for the proper rendition of the music to be played. By my improvement, I employ means whereby a power exhauster arranged to operate at a substantially constant speed may be advantageously employed, the effective tension be ing controlled by means other than by the more control of the speed of the motor. While, of course, the speed of the motor may be varied and to some extent might be employed to assist in regulating the effective tension, the employment of the controllable.

leak leading into the exhaust space or chamber wherein the partial vacuum is maintained, is essential to the highest degree of success which it is my effort to attain.

hat I claim is:

1. In a pneumatic player mechanism, action mechanism, a power exhauster arranged to operate at substantially uniform speed, an equalizer, an air passage between-said exhauster and said action mechanism, a high and low tension regulator therein normally operating to maintain low tension in the latter, said equalizer being in communication with said passage, means for varying the effective tension Within said passage, said means comprising an automatically controllable variable leak into said power operable exhauster, and means to automatically cut out of action the tension regulator with the variations in said leak.

2. In a pneumatic player mechanism, action mechanism, a power exhauster arranged to operate at substantially uniform speed, an

equalizer, an air passage between said exhauster and said action mechanism, a high and low tension regulator therein normally operating to maintain low tension in the latter, said equalizer being in communication with said passage, means for varying the eli'ective tension within said circuit, said means comprising an automatically controllable variable leak into said power operable exhauster, and means to automatically cut out of action the tension regulator with the variations in said leak, said controllable leak including a plurality of independently controlled valved passages.

In a pneumatic player mechanism, action mechanism from which air is to be ex hausted, a power cxhauster in communication therewith and arranged to operate at substantially uniform speed, means for varying the effective tension within the exhaust chamber without substantially varying the speed of the power exhauster, said means comprising a leak passage from atmosphere into the exhaust chamber, with means for partially or entirely closing said leak passage and an equalizer in communication with said exhaust chamber through said leak passage.

-il.. In a pneumatic player mechanism, ac tion mechanism from which air is to be exhausted, a power exhauster in communication therewith and arranged to operate at substantially uniform speed, means for varying the effective tension within the exhaust chamber without substantially varying the speed of the power eXhauster, said means comprising a leak passage from atmosphere into the exhaust chamber, with means for partially or entirely closing said leak passage, an equalizer normally in communication with said exhaust chamber through said leak passage, with means for shutting off communication between said equalizer and said chamber.

5. In a pneumatic player mechanism, action mechanism from which air is to be exhausted, a power exhauster in communication therewith and arranged to operate at substantially uniform speed, means for varying the effective tension within the exhaust chamber without substantially varying the speed of the power exhauster, said means comprising a leak passage from atmosphere into the exhaust chamber, with means for partially or entirely closing 'said leak passage, an equalizer normally in communication with said exhaust chamber through said leak passage, with means for shutting olf communication bet-ween said equalizer and said chamber, and means controlled by the exhauster for automatically shutting off said leak passage when the air tension within the exhaust chamber and equalizer drops to a low limit by reason of a large demand at the action mechanism.

FRANK G. lVI-IITE.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE L. Pluncn, LOUIS A. KUHNLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

